For Overseas Visitors
Welcome to wintry Sapporo, a city wrapped in snow. This page brings together what you need to plan your trip entering Japan and getting to Sapporo, where to stay, getting around, and how to walk on snowy streets. With two nights and three days in Sapporo, you can visit every venue.
Where to Start
Here is what to do before you leave.
- 1. Choose your dates
- The beginning or the end of the festival period is the easiest time to book. See When to Go.
- 2. Check entry requirements
- Check whether you need a visa, and register with Visit Japan Web before you travel. See Getting to Sapporo.
- 3. Book your flights
- Fly directly to New Chitose Airport, or transfer at Tokyo or Osaka. See Getting to Sapporo.
- 4. Book your accommodation
- If in doubt, stay near Odori Station. See Where to Stay.
- 5. Buy your tickets
- Advance tickets for Sapporo Citizens Gallery are cheaper than tickets bought on the day. See Tickets.
- 6. Pack for winter
- Bring shoes with non-slip soles and outerwear that is easy to take off indoors. See Preparing for Winter in Sapporo.
- If you plan to come during the Sapporo Snow Festival, book your flights and hotel now
When You Arrive in Sapporo
Buy a copy of the guidebook, PLANET SNOW FIELD GUIDE. It will be on sale at several venues and includes artists’ introductions to their works and other information you will not find on the website or at the venues.
Index
When to Go
We recommend the beginning or end of the festival period January 16 February 21, as flights and hotels will be easier to book than during the Sapporo Snow Festival February 4 11.
- Early in the festivalJanuary 16 Sat 28 Thu
- At the partner venue, Sapporo White Illumination Nakajima Park Venue, you can see ENESS’s new work “SNOWFISH” after dark. 10 venues are open the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site opens on February 4.
- Late in the festivalFebruary 12 Fri 21 Sun
- You can take your time looking around, as the Snow Festival and Lunar New Year holidays are over. “Iwagumi Air Scape” at Odori Park Nishi 2-chome stays on view until February 21 Sun. All 11 venues are open.
- February 4 Thu 11 Thu, National Holiday is the busiest time in the city, as the Snow Festival overlaps with the Lunar New Year holidays around February 6. All 11 venues are open, but book your flights and hotel now.
- From January 29 Fri to February 3 Wed, ENESS’s outdoor works are not on view. “SNOWFISH” at Nakajima Park runs until January 28 Thu, and “Iwagumi Air Scape” at the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site opens on February 4 Thu.
- We recommend a stay that avoids Mondays, as many venues will be closed. Weekdays are quieter, but Friday to Sunday also works well. Please check each venue’s page for opening hours and closed days.
- The サイアフ2027 venue at the Sapporo Snow Festival is the site at Odori Park Nishi 2-chome. The other Snow Festival sites are part of the Snow Festival itself.
Getting to Sapporo
Direct International Flights
New Chitose Airport CTS is the gateway to Sapporo. Direct flights operate from cities across East and Southeast Asia, including Seoul, Busan, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. Routes change by season, so please check the New Chitose Airport and airline websites for the latest information.
Connecting flights via Tokyo or Osaka
If there is no direct flight from where you live, you can transfer to a domestic flight from Tokyo Haneda/Narita or Osaka Kansai. Flights to New Chitose Airport take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Haneda, 1 hour 45 minutes from Narita, and 2 hours from Kansai.
Allow Time for Connections
In winter, snow can delay or cancel flights. On your way home, leave ample time before your international flight, or plan to spend the previous night near your departure airport.
Entering Japan
- Visas
- Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.
- Visit Japan Web
- You can register your information for immigration and customs online before you travel. Visit Japan Web
Getting from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo
- To Sapporo Station
- Approximately 37 minutes on the JR Rapid Airport train. The fare is 1,230 yen. You can buy a ticket at the airport station no reservation needed or use an IC transit card.
- To Odori and Susukino
- Take the JR train to Sapporo Station and change to the Namboku Subway Line. Odori is one stop away and Susukino is two stops away. Alternatively, the Airport Liner Bus takes you to central Sapporo in approximately 70 minutes with no transfers.
- To Shin-Sapporo
- Approximately 30 minutes by JR. The Hokkaido Museum and Sapporo Science Center are nearby, so you can visit them on the day you arrive.
- Rail passes
- If you are only visiting venues within Sapporo, you do not need a JR rail pass such as the Hokkaido Rail Pass. JR passes are not valid on the subway.
Where to Stay
We recommend staying in central Sapporo, in the area from JR Sapporo Station to Odori, Susukino, and Nakajima Park. Shin-Sapporo, home to two of the venues, is another option. For getting between venues, the Tozai Subway Line the orange line is the most convenient, as nine of the 11 venues are closest to a Tozai Line station. If in doubt, choose the area around Odori Station, where three subway lines meet and the venues are concentrated.
- Odori Station
- Our top recommendation. Three subway linesTozai, Namboku, and Tohomeet here. The Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS, the Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery, and the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site are within walking distance, and you can also walk to AOAO SAPPORO through the underground shopping arcade.
- Nishi Juitchome Station
- One stop from Odori and the closest station to the Shiryokan Former Sapporo Court of Appeals and the Chuo Ward Office Complex. Nishi Juhatchome Station, for the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, is one stop further.
- Bus Center-Mae Station
- One stop from Odori and the closest station to the Sapporo Citizens Gallery, from which you can also take the shuttle bus to Moerenuma Park.
- Sapporo Station
- Connected to JR Sapporo Station and a direct train ride from New Chitose Airport. Odori is one subway stop away, and you can also walk there through the underground walkway.
- Susukino Station
- Convenient for eating out in the evening. It is one subway stop away from Odori, and within walking distance of Tanukikoji, where AOAO SAPPORO is located.
- Nakajima Koen Station
- A calm area facing the snow-covered park and a short distance from the bustle of Susukino. It is two stops away from Odori on the Namboku Line. You can also see ENESS’s new work “SNOWFISH” in Nakajima Park after dark until January 28 Thu.
- Shin-Sapporo Station
- Near the Hokkaido Museum and Sapporo Science Center. It is approximately 30 minutes away from New Chitose Airport by JR, making it a good base for your arrival or departure day.
- Jozankei Onsen
- For those who want hot springs as well as art. This hot spring town is often called Sapporo’s back parlor, and is approximately one hour away from Sapporo Station, Odori, and Susukino on the Kappa Liner, a direct bus that requires a reservation. Evening buses stop running early, so please check the return times before leaving.
Information on サイアフ2027 partner hotels will be added as it becomes available.
Tours of the サイアフ2027 venues run by travel agencies are also available. Tours by Ezosika Travel can be booked from overseas tours by Club Tourism are offered in Japanese only.
Getting Around
We recommend a trip of three days and two nights. Getting around a snowy city takes longer than you might expect, so a relaxed schedule is the key to enjoying Sapporo in winter.
Venue Areas
Venue Map
- Central Sapporo
- Eight venues surrounding Odori. You can get around on foot and by subway.
- Shin-Sapporo
- Two venues the Hokkaido Museum and Sapporo Science Center. It is approximately 20 minutes by subway from Odori to Shin-Sapporo Station. The Sapporo Science Center is right by Exit 1. For the Hokkaido Museum, take JR Hokkaido Bus route Shin 22 bound for Kaitaku-no-mura from stop 10 at the Shin-Sapporo Bus Terminal, and get off at Hokkaido Hakubutsukan, taking approximately 15 minutes.
- Moerenuma Park
- Approximately one hour each way. Take the Toho Subway Line to Kanjo-dori-higashi Station, then Chuo Bus route Higashi 69 or Higashi 79 to Moerenuma-koen Higashiguchi, taking approximately 25 minutes. The Glass Pyramid is a 15-minute walk from the bus stop. In winter, the Moerenuma-koen Nishiguchi bus stop is not in use. The park is approximately 30 minutes away from central Sapporo by taxi, and taxis are able to drive up to the parking lot next to the Glass Pyramid. A free shuttle bus also runs from SCARTS and the Sapporo Citizens Gallery on weekends and national holidays.
Venue Names in Japanese
When you take a taxi or search for a venue in a map app, the Japanese names are easiest to use.
- Sapporo Citizens Gallery
- 札幌市民ギャラリー
- Sapporo Science Center
- 札幌市青少年科学館
- Hokkaido Museum
- 北海道博物館
- Moerenuma Park
- モエレ沼公園ガラスのピラミッド
- Shiryokan Former Sapporo Court of Appeals
- 札幌市資料館
- Chuo Ward Office Complex
- 中央区複合庁舎札幌市中央区役所
- Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS
- 札幌文化芸術交流センター SCARTS札幌市民交流プラザ
- Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site
- さっぽろ雪まつり 大通公園西2丁目
- Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
- ほっかいどうりつきんだいびじゅつかん
- Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery
- 札幌大通地下ギャラリー 500m美術館
- AOAO SAPPORO
- AOAO SAPPOROmoyuk SAPPORO 46階
- Nakajima Park
- 中島公園
Using the Subway
- Lines
- There are three lines Tozai orange, Namboku green, and Toho blue. All three pass through Odori Station.
- Payment
- Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or a smartphone, directly at the ticket gate. IC transit cards such as Kitaca, Suica, and PASMO also work.
- Fares
- 210380 yen for adults. When you pay by tapping a contactless card, your fares for the day stop at 830 yen on weekdays and 520 yen on weekends and national holidays, which is the same as a one-day pass, so there is no need to buy one. This applies to adult fares only. Make sure to use the same card or device all day.
- Underground walkways
- Sapporo Station, Odori, and Susukino are linked by underground walkways. In winter, walking underground is the easy way to get around.
- Taxis
- You can call a taxi in Sapporo with the ride-hailing apps GO, Uber, and DiDi.
Tickets
Five venues charge admission and six are free. There is no combined ticket you need a ticket for each paid venue.
- Venues with an admission fee
- Sapporo Citizens Gallery, Sapporo Science Center, Hokkaido Museum, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, and AOAO SAPPORO.
- Budget
- Visiting all five paid venues costs around 6,000 yen per adult. Student prices are also available.
- Advance tickets
- A ticket for Sapporo Citizens Gallery gives you unlimited entry throughout the festival. Advance tickets are 700800 yen cheaper than tickets bought at the venue on the day.
- Other paid venues
- Please buy tickets at each venue. For AOAO SAPPORO, you can buy an online ticket with a specified entry time in advance.
At the Venues
Here is what to expect at the venues.
- Language
- Signs and artwork descriptions at each venue are written in both Japanese and English, and the festival leaflet is also in both languages. English-speaking staff are always at the サイアフ Information desk at the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS. Please feel free to ask if you need help.
- Photography
- Rules vary by artwork. Please follow the signs next to each work.
Preparing for Winter in Sapporo
According to Japan Meteorological Agency averages, daytime highs in Sapporo in January and February are around 0°C 32°F, while overnight lows are around 6°C 21°F. The city is blanketed in snow, which lies close to one meter deep by February, and the streets are icy. A little preparation makes walking much easier, even if you are not used to snow.
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
What to Wear
- The ideal outfit
- A thick puffer jacket over a single long-sleeved layer. The jacket keeps you warm outside, and you will be comfortable indoors once you take it off.
- Indoors
- Buildings are well-heated. If you wear too many layers, you may find yourself sweating.
- If you do not have a thick puffer jacket
- Layer a light puffer jacket, fleece, or jumper under a windproof coat. Choose a combination that is easy to put on and take off indoors.
- Fabrics
- For jackets and pants, choose smooth-surfaced fabrics that let you brush snow off by hand. Snow clings to fuzzy fabrics, then melts indoors and leaves you wet.
- Accessories
- A hat, gloves, and a scarf are essential. A hat that covers your ears is best.
- Outdoor venues
- Moerenuma Park, the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site, and Nakajima Park at night require you to spend a long time outside.
- Buying in Sapporo
- Gloves, hats, and disposable hand warmers are sold at convenience stores, drugstores, and clothing shops in Sapporo.
Footwear
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
- Shoes
- Wear shoes with non-slip soles. Snow boots or shoes with deep-treaded rubber soles work well. Ordinary trainers and leather shoes slip on icy streets.
- Ice grips
- You can also attach slip-on ice grips to your own shoes. They are sold at shoe shops, convenience stores, and drugstores for around 1,000 yen.
- How to walk
- Take small steps, put the whole sole of your foot down, and walk slowly.
- Slippery spots
- Pedestrian crossings, the entrances to subway stations and buildings, and pavements where cars cross are especially slippery.
- Grit bins
- At intersections, you will find boxes of anti-slip sand. Anyone may scatter it on icy ground.
Getting Around
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
- Flights
- Snow can cause delays and cancellations. Do not overplan your last day, and check your flight status before you leave.
- JR trains and buses
- On days of heavy snow, services may be delayed or suspended. Make sure to allow extra time.
- Driving
- Driving is dangerous if you are not used to winter roads. Please use public transport, tours, or taxis.
- Sunset
- The sun sets at around 16時30分 in mid-January and around 17時 in mid-February. Visit outdoor venues while it is light, and enjoy the evening programs after dark.
- Smartphones
- Batteries drain faster in the cold. It is worth carrying a portable charger.
Learn More about サイアフ
The Sapporo International Art Festival サイアフ began in 2014. You can read about its history and ideas here.